Gillingham will make their longest away trip of the season today when they take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light with the aim of bouncing back from last week’s defeat at the hands of AFC Wimbledon.

Steve Evans’ side lost for the first time in 16 league games last Saturday, and are now eight points off the play-off places in League One. Sunderland are currently fifth – and nothing less than a win will do if the Blues want to keep their slim chances of finishing in the top six alive. 

And it won’t be an easy game for the visitors. Despite losing their last game against table-toppers Coventry City, the Black Cats have tasted defeat just twice in their last 16 league games – a record that stretches back to their loss at Priestfield against Gillingham back in December. 

On that day the Gills prevailed 1-0 thanks to a late goal from defender Connor Ogilvie. The Blues were by far the better team on the day, as they were in their FA Cup second round replay victory against the same opposition the same a few weeks earlier, but manager Phil Parkinson has improved the team and has them grinding out results at the right time in the season.

The two sides shared a draw in the original FA Cup tie, although Sunderland won last season’s equivalent 4-2. 

Gillingham captain Max Ehmer should be fit for the game after being forced off in the loss against Wimbledon with a shoulder injury. He trained most of the week, and is set to resume his partnership at the back with Jack Tucker, and pick up his 250th appearance for Gillingham along the way.

Loanee Jordan Roberts is also set to return after missing last week’s game through injury. He made the bench, but was unable to take part in the match itself. Apart from that, the Gills have no fresh injury concerns, with Mark Byrne remaining a long-term injury absentee.

Steve Evans has a real task on his hands if Gillingham are to make the play-off places in League One. He’ll have some important team decisions to make, and his side will have to be at their very best if they are to take anything away from the Stadium of Light.